Linn Maung
In view of Rakhine’s geographical proximity with India and Bangladesh, both by land and sea frontiers, people of Rakhine should explore economic relations with immediate neighbouring countries. Rakhine had historical, socio-cultural and trade ties with India and it is the reason, cultural assimilation or fusion took place in Rakhine especially in Rakhine’s northern districts. Due to similar socio-cultural and relgious practices, this continued for decades together. Many Buddhists in Rakhine even today hold a view that there had been no issues with Rohingyas and this agenda of hatred was planned and executed by settlers from Bamar heartland in the name of Dhamma. Now only way to restore peace and harmony among the people is to change the focus and work collectively to bring economic development in Rakhine and hopefully 90% of issues would be resolved. Internally Displaced People(IDPs) are most vulnerable, they need jobs to sustain.
The ethnic groups representing Arakanese or Rohingyas should work out a strategy wherein natural resources of Rakhine should be utilised for development of their own rather exported to China. China had laid gas and oil pipelines from Kyauphyue to Kunming just to meet its energy demands in landlocked Yunnan Province and to bypass Mallaca strait. As a result, people of Rakhine had lost their land and livelihood both. Kyaukphyue Deep Sea Port and EEZ will bring more pain in the coming days.
In Rakhine war is over natural resources and everyone wants Lion’s share without putting much efforts. Ethnic groups are dictated by China due to obvious reasons. Top leadership has price tag and actually they are exploiting their own people in the name of so called independence struggle and it has no end as clash of interest over revenue sharing and dominance will give birth to many other groups in future. Insurgency is like cancer, hard to root out unless masses unite to give tough fight which seems impossible in Rakhine. Most of the groups start with right cause but finally end up as “revenue collectors” , exploiting their own people. It has taken a shape of fullfeleged industry in many countries.
If Kaladan project, an initiative of India, is completed without much further delay, it can definitely alter the economic dimensions in Rakhine. India like China is a strong economy and is in position to check China’s exploitative designs in Rakhine. Similarly, Rakhine’s rail connectvity with India in future will open more economic opportunities and ultimately it will bring prosperity. People of Rakhine should introspect their future and weigh options available for development of Rakhine.
